I certify, That the bearer hereof, Mary Bell (mulatto aged 48 yrs) hath produced to me satisfactory evidence of the legality of her title to freedom, pursuant to an act of the Corporation of the city of Washington, entitled "An act concerning free negroes, mulattoes and slaves," passed on the thirty-first day of May, in the year eighteen hundred and twenty-seven, she is therefore permitted to reside in the said city of Washington, she complying with the provisions contained in the above recited act.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Corporation of the said city of Washington, this 18th day of Oct Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty three